Christmas Picture for 2009

We have lift off....

Wee Willie Wallace commomly know as Baker

One day he is laying there, the next day he is crawling around, the day after he is standing and a few days later he is pushing a baby chair around the house. Bad Boy Baby Baker is becoming a little man.

Best of all, at least from his perspective, he is driving his brother crazy. He grabs Jack's hair, won't let go and just giggles. Papa, under his breath so Mimi won't hear, "Pay back is hell!"

In early November Papa's sister Jan visited with her daughter Stella, Grandma Wallace and Stella's 13 month old son Rustin. We had one crawling, one running around into everything and two, a 3 year old and 85 year old, who wouldn't stop talking. Time for some Papa water!

When Mom went to Cape Canaveral to report the space shuttle launch for her Citadel Magazine, Mimi and Papa HAD to babysit. Both boys had been healthy until that point waiting on the opportunity to scare the old folks. Which they did..whatever happen to paregoric?

This kid can eat.

Funny Boy

Jack is growing up in a hurry. He's loads of fun to be around and keeps a smile on our face. When he wants us to do something--which is almost all the time--he calls his groupies "You Guys." He gets his way as follows: 1. with Mimi 100% of the time, 2. with Papa 90% of the time, 3. with Mom 60% of the time and 4. with Baby Baker 0% of the time.

One day Papa picked up a DVD at the library with cartoon Polar Bears and was excited about watching it with Jack. Jack asked if it had trains, trucks or cars in it? Since it didn't he reckoned he just watch Thomas the Train. The kids love all things mechanical.

Papa's sister's boy Cousin Travis, who is in Navy School at Charleston Navy Base, stayed with us Thanksgiving. He and Jack had a great visit. Everyone stayed up late watching "Ice Age" and we had a wonderful turkey dinner at Mimi's house. Travis had a look of relief by the time I dropped him back off in N. Charleston to be with his buddies.

The picture was taken at New Beginnings church school were Jack and his classmates did a Christmas program. Jennifer and Dolly gave it great reviews; Papa hung out at the house with BB. Papa and Baker did get several previews of Jingle Bells before the big night.

Poop Party has been a roller coaster ride. Everyone says it's a three year old thing. Papa is buying stock in a diaper company.

We've all had the Kiddy Cold which doesn't seem to go away this time of year but no major medical problems this fall. Keep your fingers crossed.

Shades of the future..

Playmates

Halloween 2009

Big Boy Bodacious Beautiful Baby Baker is a Wee Willie Wallace who has a winning smile. He smiles more than any kid I've ever seen but he also can be a bad baby. He loves the left hip. Baker has been crawling for about 10 days and doing 3 point setting for over a week-- which is fanny in a setting position using one hand as support. On Halloween he sat straight up for the first time. Then today he pulled up and was standing all by himself when I picked he up

from school.

In the mean time Jack has entered the world of three year olds. He is a great little guy except when he is tired which is when he does his best Aunt Caroline imitation. Every day we have one of those 'out of the mouth of children stories'. The other day we went down the street to see our friend Clark who loves to shop. Jack said, "Clark's car is gone, Clark not home." When I said he was a work Jack corrected me by saying, "Clark not at work, he at Costco!" He was probably right.

Jack can spell Jack, car, go, Wallace, boy, baby and a few more I can't remember.

Halloween was a big day. We went to a well attended neighborhood party over on Stocker Drive. All the kids wore their costumes along with a few of the adults--Papa thought the guy with the yellow hair was a little weird. There were games for the kids along with pedicab rides by Papa Pedicabman. Later Jennifer manned the door while Papa and Dolly took Jack around the immediate neighborhood to Trick or Treat at some of our friends houses. Jack was a big hit in his monkey suit. Later Jennifer and Kim took Jack over to Chadwick for an impromptu book club meeting where the girls got a little thirsty. When the Jello Shots came out Jack had to come home where he begged too much candy off of Papa. Later when Baby Baker woke up for his 9:30 PM topping off Jennifer had to come home and the partying was all over. Life in the fast lane.

Now he's a three year old..

He'll be driving a car before you know it. Speaking of CARS we've passed excessive and gone into the realm of bizarre..in addition to the 30 of so he already owns he got about 15 more plus, a car DVD, car sheets, car pj's, car books, car cards and Mack the Car Carrier which hauls around the star of the whole show...Lightning McQueen.

At times this car thing becomes a nightmare particularly with all the inventory control problems. Sarge--the jeep--has been AWOL for about a week and the source of lots of speculation, questions and searches. Will it never end?

Jennifer took a 1/2 day off Friday, she and Dolly took Jack to the beach. After which the boy took a nice nap a woke just in time for the party which was attended by Clark, Dolly Jennifer, Baby Baker, Papa and Birthday Boy. We had pizza and birthday cake. Baker enjoyed helping Jack open presents and eating the cake that Papa fed him. Papa says Jack is growing up and guesses he'll only have yearly birthdays from now on, which is kind of sad particularly since the 2 and a half year old was so much fun.

On Saturday, Jack and Jennifer had a play date with Kelly and her children. Later on Jack and Papa watched the Car DVD and Birthday Boy got to stay up passed bedtime. On Sunday night everybody went to bed early to rest up for next year.

September 2009

Jack is becoming a really little man, he is almost 39" tall. We're almost potty trained so just when Papa figured out the diaper drill he had to start dealing with poop in the cup--will it never end? Mean time, Jack has figured out some fairly complicated stuff on his own without being taught. Anytime we do something out of the ordinary he want to know what's going on. So that if Papa and Jack go for a walk and his mom's car is gone when we get home he want to know where she has gone and will offer his own ideas such as, "Mommy gone to work?"

He can spell his name and other simple words like car. He has his letters down and knows capital letters from lower case. He know the differences between a tugboat, container ship, jet ski, that he crosses the Ashley River and Cooper River to go to Mimi's house and that Mimi lives in Mt. Pleasant and he lives in Charleston. His vocabulary includes 'actually' and 'delicious'. When we go for a walk he says hello to Mr. Ted and the other neighbors. On walks he'll say, "Let's go left, Mimi!" and head in that direction. He runs so fast that Papa is in training to keep up.

Big boy beautiful baby Baker might be a little spoiled but that big smile of his makes up for when he fusses. He is a big strong baby who is about ready to start motoring around the house. Now that he is eating some solid food he sleeps good at night. He is so big it looks a little weird when he is nursing. Baker is about 28.5" tall.

This is a picture of Big Boy Baby Baker who is now 5 months old. He sleeps most of the night unless his mom is topping him off--he likes to eat. He is eating baby food and likes most foods except peas--really, who could eat of that stuff anyway without a little salt. His favorite thing to do is lay in Jack's bed when Jennifer reads books. He is also big on smiling, like to ride the BOB, play with Aunt Anne and ride in Papa's pedicab.

His big accomplishment to date was last night in the bath when he discovered his pee pee--he doesn't get a lot of time with it cause there is always the diaper. Mimi says he was looking for his feet--yeah right! This morning Jennifer walked in on him admiring himself in his crib mirror. Gotcha she said and startled him--then he went back to admiring himself.

This is one strong kid. You can hold him in a squat position and he'll extend his legs nearly jumping out of your arms and does this five or ten times. He'll be walk-in and talk-in before we know it.

Movie Star Jack...

Papa agrees this is a good looking kid but SHE needs a haircut. Now that Papa is back from a two week bicycle trip the boy is going to get a haircut. It will probably take Mimi and Jennifer a couple hours to explain how they want it cut to Papa who will do what he always does...ignore everyone. After all, if they wanted it cut a certain way there was plenty of time while he was out of town.

Projects..

Jack is a busy boy who always has projects. This picture was taken when he decided it was a good idea to bring the swimming pool inside the house. Why not, after all it's so much fun outside? He managed to get it half way up the steps before his mom got involved. That's the problem when your 2 and 3/4; moms prefer not having their house totally trashed.

The other morning Jennifer told Jack Mimi was taking him to the beach. Jack did what he always does which is to gather up stuff for the trip. In this case his little pink shovel and big blue shovel. Then for the next hour he wandered around and asked 283 times when Mimi was coming to pick him up. We have a new rule around here: do not tell Jack the plan till your ready to execute that plan.

We're making progress on the potty training front but it's a slow go mainly because of all the places and people involved. Jack does know what to do but can't always fine the time for this project with all his other projects.

Knock on wood, everyone has had a healthy summer so far. No colds for the boys and Papa has yet to be run over on his bicycle.

A little tired..

Bad Boy Bobo Baby Billy Baker--say that 3 times fast--doesn't seem to need much sleep. His mom is getting tired of all his late night parties. Papa say the boy needs some real grub not that Mamma's milk and rice cereal. Mimi says she is getting back problems from lugging him around in the car carrier which is about 30 plus pounds. Even if he can be a hand full it's worth the trouble just to see that big ole Baker smile.

Jack stubbed his toe walking barefoot with Grandpapa so both the big boys are in trouble with the boss lady. If we take off Jack's shoes someone gonna get smacked. We learned the words to When Johnny Comes Marching Home. Jack, who knows about 20 verses of Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round, leading us in singing most nights--Grandpapa gets a little bug eyed after 10 or so verses.

Mimi and Aunt Anne have been doing a lot of their baby sitting over at Jennifer's house and Grandpapa helps out some of the time. We've been playing in the sprinkler, taking walks and riding to buy groceries on the pedicab. Jack and Baker like the stroller--Baker hardly ever cries in the stroller. Jack mostly walks when we take the stroller--up to one mile-- only gets in it if he's real tired. It's fun to walk to the library where Jack checks out books and Grandpapa pastes them back together.

Billy Boy has a new toy...

His Mom thought he was to young for this THING--as you can see I'm not even sure what it's called, maybe Go in Circle Droll Toy. Last Sunday was William Baker Wallace's Christening. Everything went well, Baker was a good boy. Jack on the other hand competed with the preacher by doing his ABC's in the back ground--he was almost in tune. Tommy's momma, Anna joined us for the weekend and helped Jennifer paint her "I got a deal headboard." She also did a cool sign on the back of my pedicab--get out of the steel box.

Potty Party update...

We're not there yet but there is progress to report. Jennifer's Three Day Plan worked, trouble is he thinks the only reason for going pee pee in the potty is to get a cookie and if your not hungry or have a project going then WHY BOTHER.

We got a pleasant surprise yesterday when Jack his first poop in the potty. He did this all by himself while Jennifer was on the phone. This poop cost Papa a $15.00 trip to Cold Stone Ice Cream to celebrate the big event but his mom did save fifteen cents on a diaper. Mimi, Jennifer, Jack, Baker all enjoyed the ice cream. Back at the house, Papa wondered why Jennifer would put a bib on Jack when he had on the same ice cream stained tee shirt? Oxy Clean really does work.

If you happen to be around Jack's house and a naked little boy runs by you'll know we're still working on Potty Party Time.

Aunt Caroline comes to Charleston.

Mimi and Papa trying to get a little rest between trips to the beach with Jack. Baby Baker isn't a big beach fan..YET!

Aunt Caroline made her annual migration from West "By God" Virgina to Charleston and we all spent 4 days at Folly Beach during her stay.

Jack made about 4 trips a day down to the water and let me tell you that would be a hard project for a platoon of Marines to pull off. Let's see, you got your beach chairs, umbrella, big truck, 3 shovels, small truck--it kept getting lost--water, towels and toy boats. Not to mention suntan lotion, wet bathing suits, sand up the ying yang and a gaggle of sandals. Thank God it rained several afternoons.

We also did beach walks, pedicab rides, bicycle rides, stepper bike rides and fixed enought food for those Marines.

We've had some rain!

Jack had on his orange Crocks, dirty pants and stained tee shirt: never a better time for mud puddle wadding. The first time he wandered into the big ditch he got wet to the neck..it just can't get much better than that.

The dance...

Aunt Anne and the boys

This picture was taken at Aunt Anne's birthday party at Mimi's house.  We ate shrimp, home made biscuits, cold slaw, cake, strawberries and ice cream.  Anne never said how old she is but since I'm about 45 she must be about 28.  

We're all thankful for the help Anne is giving Jennifer to raise the children.  

Well grounded...

This Baby Baker monkey foot picture was taken several week ago but I just got my copy.   He looks like he's going to be a big strong boy.  He can do a great baby drunk stand and has that offensive lineman look.

Jack is changing and every day we get a new surprise--mostly pleasant.  This morning he marched into his mom's room, who was asleep, told her that Lulu wanted to watch TV and ASKED if he could turn it on.  

In the car the other day when we were talking, he thought I said Jack was at Mimi's house.  He laughed and said, "Jack in car, Papa!"

I'm surprised that a 2.5 years old he has such a grasp on his  location.  For example,  if he is hot to go to Mimi's house, and we take a different route due to traffic, he'll give me the third degree.  "Where we goin', Papa?" Hard to sneak in a quick stop at the Papa Water store with this guy.  

Things we can do: count to 20, recognize colors, say ABC's (and recognize some letters), know darn near all types of construction equipment with special emphasis on trucks, talk on the phone, turn on everything, open any door that's not child proofed, eat with spoon, fork and hands (all at once), sing a few songs and dance (something his mom hasn't learned to do in 40 years).   [Note from Mommy:  Papa is the one who can't dance!  Jack also knows left from right 90 percent of the time.  If you ask him what time it is, he says, "8 clock."  He's learning the days of the week.  And next week we start Greek lessons.  :o)] 

In case you haven't learned enough,  give his Mimi a call and she'll talk about him for hours. 

Now if we can only get him interested in Potty Party Time.  The plan was to start a couple months ago but haven't found anything important enough to Jack to get him to sit still long enough on the potty for something to happen.  I suggested that we tie him to the pot but Mom and Mimi veto all my good ideas.

Little Tiger..2 months old

Baby Baker is becoming Buddha Baby.

His mom has him on a strict schedule which basically means he does whatever he wants,  when he want to. 

These days we're getting a few smiles, lots of arm and leg waving and everything smelling like sour milk.  

He gets to spend a lot of time with his Aunt Anne who is helping out.  They are big buddies and both Auburn fans. In fact, I'm sending this picture to AU Football so they can keep an Tiger eye on him.

Notice the slobber on his chin and shirt?  Right after this picture was taken we had a major stink--the kid lost about 4 pounds-- and Jennifer had to wash EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING.  

NOTE: Two month check up results are in and they are huge.  The boy weights 16 pounds and 4 oz.  He is 26.25" long.  Off the charts on weight and height...all on mommy's milk.  Oh yea, he has 10 toes, 10 fingers and 4 chins.

Two of a kind..kind of

We both slobber a lot and naps are a big deal.  We both like to wave our hands around when we talk but no one listens to us anyway. If we had a barber it would be the same one. He has 3 rolls of fat under his chin and I have a few --but who is counting. 

On the other hand he hasn't found a job yet but we're working on it.  My back side is hairy and his is pink.  With a little luck he'll get out of diapers in a few years and I'll never have to wear them.

Big guy takes a bath...

Little Baby Brother Baker can't talk yet.  He  like to move his arms around and make sounds.  I think he is trying to tell Momma not to get soap in his eyes.  Sometimes I like to pat his head and everyone tells me not to pat too hard.  Baby Baker cries, eats and sleeps but does not play very much.  When he gets older we'll get to play.  At dinner the other night I dropped spaghetti on his head and Mom got mad at me.  I don't like it when Baby Baker cries...Papa says pay back is?

Baby Baker  had his 2 week check up

this week and was off the charts forheight at 23.25" and his weight was 10 pounds 4.5 oz which is in the 97  percentile.

Jennifer, Jack, Baker and I went to Myrtle Beach to meet Simon and his family.  Simon is Jack and Baker's half brother.  His mom Rhianna, Grumpa Gary and Grandma Michelle invited us to stay with them at their condo.  The weather was something only a Canadian could appreciate and since Simon and his family live in Maine they thought it wasn't so bad--we froze.  Michelle made a great dinner, the boys played on the beach, we went for a long walk and drank some Papa water.  Great folks, great fun. 

Birthday and Easter

We  double dipped on Easter this year by celebrating the holiday and also Jack's birthday--he is 2.5 years old.  Any excuse for extra desert around this place.

We went to Mimi's house for lunch with Mimi and Aunt Anne.  Mimi made fresh crab cake cassarole along with Alabama sweet corn.  All that eating made Jack and Papa tired and they took a nice nap in Caroline's room-- Caroline let's Jack use her room unless she is in town.   

Next week we plan to start Potty Time.  Momma bought Jack a Elmo Video and new potty seat to start the adventure.  On Monday, Papa bought Jack more diapers just in case.

Baby Baker makes another funny face.

Sunglasses

These are the new sunglasses Mimi bought for me.  Mimi is my best buddy and we like to play together.

Baby Baker is my little brother.  Papa said we were going to leave Baby Baker with Mimi but I made Momma bring him home.  

Papa told me to hold out my right arm and I did it.  Mimi said I got lucky.  Papa told me to hold up my left arm, then my right leg and finally my left leg.  I got them all right.  Papa says we showed Mimi a thing or two.  Mimi and Papa call me Funny Bunny because I so much fun. 

I can say my ABC's and sing the ABC Song.  I also sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Happy Birthday.  I recognize my numbers but some times get 6 and 9 mixed up.  I learned how to say "delicious" and when I say it Momma laughs at me and messes up my hair.  

Twins????

This is Baby Baker and me.  Papa says we don't have to take pictures of Baby Baker because we have plenty of me when I was a baby and Baby Baker looks just like me.  

Momma says Baby Baker is a good baby and only cries when he needs a diaper change or is hungry.  BB eats a lot and has hundreds of dirty diapers.

Papa says it's time for me to use the big boys potty but I don't want to. Mimi says there is no hurry.  I like Mimi.

Baby brother....

From Papa: William Baker Wallace, 8 pounds 13 oz. and 22" long.  Born Medical University of South Carolina at 1:53 today.  Mother and baby doing fine.

Since the little guy was about a week late they induced labor.  When one of the nurses looked under the sheet and said it was time to get to work I ran like hell for the waiting room.  Forty five minutes later I was invited back for a visit and by then Bobo was washed up, dressed up, open eyed and plugged in for his first meal.  The kid can eat. This picture was taken when he was less than one hour old and right after the toes and fingers count--10 each.  Tomorrow he gets the old cut pee pee trick and comes on home and meets his older brother.  We're all excited and thankful for a health baby. 

Funny Bunny

From Papa:  Jack likes to call himself Jojo these days and calls his mom Lulu etc.  His sense of humor really blossomed the last couple months.  He makes us laugh.  The other day we were stopped at a red light and he spotted a front end loader and said "Front end loader?" I agreed with him.  After studying it another minute he  said "Big front end loader!" 

Baker will be here any minute.

New Baby

My little baby brother  is living in Mama's tummy.   Papa says he maybe bigger than me.  Mama says Papa is not funny.  Baby brother is coming in a few weeks.

Sometimes I can't wait to see my baby brother but other times I wish he would just stay in Mama.  One thing for sure...I will not share by blanket, baby bear or trucks. Mama says baby brother Baker has his own blanket. Papa says I'm going to have to learn to play second fiddle.  When do I get my first fiddle?  I can count to ten or maybe 12, do I get 10 fiddles? 

I've been very healthy this winter.  Mimi says this is because I such a strong boy and I eat right.  I like raisins and most fruits.  Why don't we have more cookies around this place? 

Mama reads to me every night.   I  know front end loader, cement truck, garbage truck, car hauler, track loader, farm tractor and all the other trucks in my truck book.  I know  most shapes like triangle and square and also know  animals and their sounds.  I know most of my colors if I think about them.  One day I put Mimi in time out and I let Papa know when it is time to walk the dogs.  Lulu and I are becoming good friends, I pet Scooter when he and I set in Papa's lap.  I don't cry when my hair is washed and love to play with my squirt toys in the tub.  Sometimes I tell Papa I want to take my nap or go nite nite.  School is fun and I put my hands  in my pocket if it's cold.  I'm starting to know my right from left, we practise this when I dress.  Now days I take off my own jacket and eat at my own table. Papa says  I might be a little piglet but I'm a cute little piglet.  

Papa gets in BIG trouble!

Papa took this piture just as I was waking up from my nap. 

Yesterday I got a haircut from Ms. Banana--Kantana.  I was a big boy and didn't cry and only moved my head 10 times.  Papa says Ms. Banana was determined to beat that cow lick in the front of my head even if she had to shave me.  Now I don't have a cow lick and Papa is in big trouble with Mama and Mimi.  Papa says everyone should relax because I'll have a great haircut in a few weeks.  

Watch out for the rats...

 I like to get up early in the morning then go back  nite nite with Mama.   She laughs at me when I come into her room with some of my stuff.  I need my sippy cup, baby duck, fire truck, baby fire truck and blanket. There is more stuff I need,  but can't carry it all.

Mimi says I have a rats nest in my hair.  Why would a rat be in my hair? I don't think I like rats.  Papa days I need a hair cut.

From Mama: “Mama, I pind it! I pind it!”  [Translation:  I found it.  I found it.  It being the “baby duck”—the little rubber duck we’d searched the house for.]

 

“Where did you find it?”

 

“I pind it al la la la chair.”  [I found it in the chair.]

 

When Jack doesn’t know a verb, he substitutes the phrase “a la la la.”

From Papa...Life of Riley..

Everyone should be a 2-year-old for a day.  Life is simple for these guys. Take math, for example, you only have 2 numbers to worry about--one and two. One equals one and two equals everything else. Want to be cute? Just repeat something stupid an adult said and smile.  Want the moon? Just bat those baby blues and say pleeese.  Don't know what you want? Just say some words they don't understand, and they will start offering you stuff till you see something you do want.  Tired of riding your trike?  Just get off and somehow it'll get back home. Need a nap?  Any place any time, master. Want to stay out of trouble?  Do whatever you want, and if they get mad, just put on that siht-eating-grin and keep it there till it cracks them up.